Protecting the perpetrator

The story of Josh Weeks is a clear example of the many ways child abuse is enabled and covered up in Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission. The Substack "Whispers to Roars" outlines a horrifying series of events that occurred last year, in 2024, which ended in tragedy. Please read their story for more context.

Despite known inappropriate sexual behavior, instead of having Josh Weeks leave the organization to get appropriate help, Ethnos360 and their personnel director, Brian Coombs, allowed him to work and live at their Missionary Training Center in Missouri. During his time in Missouri, the organization allegedly signed off on the family becoming a foster family. As could have been predicted, this ended horrifically. A child was sexually abused as a result of both Josh Weeks' actions and the organization's negligence.

As if allowing him this second chance, including access to children, wasn't negligent enough, Ethnos360 leadership at the Missionary Training Center allegedly received Weeks' confession, listened to his intent to turn himself in to authorities, and then told him not to (allegedly violating their obligations as mandated reporters). The Whispers to Roars post claims that leadership told him not to turn himself in but to go to bed, and they would arrange a lawyer for him in the morning, someone who would help protect him from the consequences of his abuse.

As a result of the counsel of this lawyer, Weeks was allegedly able to avoid criminal prosecution for his harm to this child, leaving the child without justice and their family picking up the pieces of Ethnos360's egregious child abuse response. To add insult to injury, the Weeks family was celebrated upon their departure from the Missionary Training Center with a party to "show appreciation... and encourage them as they transition." This is yet another example of a culture that supports the abuser and abandons children who are harmed.

Even though the organization now officially admits that Josh Weeks sexually abused a child, adding him to their list of 20 people who have abused children, privately, they allegedly tell stories that soften the truth and call their own determination into question. I find the most disturbing of all of the alleged excuses to be their claim that the child assaulted Josh Weeks, the adult caregiver. It is absurd that anyone would use this excuse, and even more so that anyone would believe it to be valid, but a culture that routinely covers up abuse and blames the victim is primed to accept this nonsensical story.

Ethnos360's list of 20 abusers has a parenthetical next to Josh Weeks' name. It claims they added him to their list "upon close of legal case." This seems like an excuse for a name they never intended to add (it was ommitted for nearly a year), especially since, if you request the records from the Camden County Sheriff's Office, you receive this response: "This is an open report and not releasable... pending investigation or prosecution."

If this organization didn't already have a decades-long history of child abuse coverups, maybe this would be shocking, but, unfortunately, this is their pattern of behavior and therefore who they are. Every church, every supporter, every missionary of Ethnos360 is obligated to respond to stories like these with action. To do anything else is to continue to empower a culture where this happens over and over again. Children are being sacrificed for this organization, and to do nothing is to both enable and become culpable.

Thanks to the community at Whispers to Roars for sharing your stories and exposing the truth behind Ethnos360's facade.